Henry Ferriss

Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, No. 111 Squadron moved north, initially to Acklington and then to Drem in Scotland, from where it patrolled along the coastline.^[3] On 12 January 1940, Ferriss was promoted to flying officer.^[5] The next month No. 111 Squadron shifted again, this time to Wick, where it provided the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow with aerial cover. It was occasionally scrambled to counter Luftwaffe bomber attacks.^[3][6] On 8 April, Ferriss claimed a half share in a Heinkel He 111 medium bomber destroyed near Scapa Flow, although this was not confirmed. Two days later, flying in the same vicinity, he shared in the destruction of another He 111, of Kampfgeschwader 26 (Bomber Wing 26).^[7]

By mid-May, No. 111 Squadron was back in the south of England, from where it regularly flew to France following the invasion of that country.^[3] On 18 May Ferriss destroyed three Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters to the east of Douai, and also claimed another Bf 110 as damaged. At least some of the aircrew of the aircraft he destroyed had taken to their parachutes and Ferriss reported that he had fired upon them, believing that they would make territory held by the Germans.^[7] From late May and into early June, No. 111 Squadron flew in support of Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk.^[3] During this time, on 31 May, Ferriss shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter north of Dunkirk.^[7]

Once the evacuation was completed, the squadron provided escorts for the Fleet Air Arm's bombing operations over the French coast and on 6 June, Ferriss destroyed two Bf 109s near Abbeville.^[7][8]

A period of rest at Croydon followed for No. 111 Squadron; this allowed for training up of replacement pilots.^[3] During this time Ferris was recognised for his successes in the previous weeks with an award of a Distinguished Flying Cross. This was gazetted on 20 June and the published citation read:

During two consecutive days in May, Flying Officer Ferriss shot down a total of four Messerschmitt 110's although heavily outnumbered. Later, he shot down a further three Messerschmitt 109's. In these combats he has displayed outstanding ability.

The squadron soon commenced patrolling over the English Channel.^[3] On 10 July, Ferris shared in the destruction of a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber off Folkestone, and also shot down a Bf 109 in the same vicinity. The fighter crashed into the sea but the pilot was subsequently rescued. Ferriss meanwhile was attacked by another Bf 109 and as a result, his Hurricane was damaged and he was lightly wounded.^[7][10] Patrolling 10 miles (16 km) to the west of Boulogne on 28 July, Ferriss caught a Heinkel He 59 floatplane of the Luftwaffe's Seenotdienst (sea rescue service) on the surface of the sea; it was attempting to rescue the crew of another He 59 that had been shot down by pilots of No. 111 Squadron. Making strafing attacks on the He 59, Ferriss caused major damage and wounded two of the crew.^[11]

On 13 August Ferriss destroyed one Do 17 and damaged a second over Seasalter. Two days he claimed a Do 17 as probably destroyed near Dover. The next day, No. 111 Squadron was scrambled to intercept bombers approaching the Kent coastline. Making a head-on attack on one of these bombers, a Do 17, near Marden, Ferriss collided with the aircraft he targeted. The wreckage of his Hurricane landed on a nearby farm. He and the crew of the bomber were killed.^[7][12]

Ferriss is buried at St Mary's churchyard in Chislehurst, England.^[1][13] He is credited with having shot down eleven German aircraft, two of which were shared with other pilots. Another shared aerial victory was unconfirmed. He is also credited with one aircraft probably destroyed and two damaged.^[7]

• Bishop, Patrick (2003). Fighter Boys: Saving Britain 1940. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-257169-2.
• Cull, Brian (2013). First of the Few: 5 June – 9 July 1940. Stroud: Fonthill. ISBN 978-1-78155-116-5.
• Cull, Brian (2017). Battle for the Channel: The First Month of the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 10 August 1940. Stroud: Fonthill. ISBN 978-1-78155-625-2.
• Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
• Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-8-9869-7000.